Adjustable liner for well casings



J. S. BECK ADJUSTABLE LINER FOR WELL CASINGS Abril 21, 1942.

Filed Feb. 14, 1939 3 Shets-Sheet 1 nvmvmn: Juu us 5'. BECK- M Ammvm'.

UNI 1,010.

April 1942- J..S. BECK I ADJUSTABLE LINER FOR WELL CASINGS Filed Feb. 14, 1939 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

'Juuus S. BEc/{.

ATTORNEY.

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Patented Apr. 21, 1942 UJNPITLED STATES PATENT TOFFFEICE 'ADJUSTABLELINER FOR WELL cosmos Julius,S..Beck, its Angeles, Calif. Application February 14, 1939, Serial No. 256,299 (01.166-8) 11 oiaim.

This invention relates to liners which are connected to the lower end of the casing in an oil well, 'for screening the oil before it enters the casing, and this invention is an improvement upon my liner :for well casing disclosed my application, Serial No. 221,135, filed July25, i938.

The general object :of thisinvention is to'provide a liner for oil 'well casing which may be adjusted to vary the size of "its screening openings, whereby the liner may be adjusted for coarser or finer screening of the oil pumped through the casing as conditions require.

Other objects and advantages will-appear hereinafter.

Theinvention consists linthe 'lovel features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts "hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which,

,Fig. *1 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section of the upper portion of my liner, showing the spring of the uppermost unit of my liner compressed and closing the screen openings.

Fig. -2 is a view "like "1, of the lower portion of my liner, but showing the spring ofthe' lowermost liner unitexpanded and partly uncovering thescreen openings for screening the oil.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of my liner taken on line 3-3 of Fig. "1.

Fig.4 is a cross section of my liner taken on line 4-4 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of my liner taken on line 5-5015 Fig. 1. I I

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the wrench for operating the spring adjusting means for varying the size of the screen openings.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a modifica tion of my invention shown supported in an oil well casing and with the spring :compressedand reducing the screen openings to their minimum size for the fine screening. l

r Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line 8- 8 of Fig. "7.

of Fig. '7. i

V Fig. .10 is a cross section taken on line lib-.10

of Fig. 7.

cation of :my invention as shown in Fig. 'I, but

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on line 9-9 and showing means for preventing gas under pressure from blowing theliner out of the well.

Fig. 15 is ;a horizontal section of Fig. litaken on line l5--*l5 of Fig. 14. v

16 is a horizontal section of Fig. 14 taken on line 16-46 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 a horizontal section of Fig. "14 taken on line I"I--"l| of Fig. '14.

Fig. 18 isa view like Fig. 14 except that the spring is shown compressed by the plunger in the upper end of the liner tubing.

Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation,of another modificationof my invention, with a spring compression plunger mounted "-in the lower end as we'll as in the upper endof the liner tube, and showing the spring partly compressed by the plunger-in the lower end of the liner tube.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 -in-' clusive of the drawings my liner'isformed in a plurality of superimposedunits leach of which includes a casing section 2 'provided w'i-th 7a plurality ofyinlets 3, screw couplings :4 connected to :the ends respectively of said sections, a coil spring 5 within said section fitted to the inner surface of said section and extending across said inlets 3, and spring positioning members 6 secured in said couplings respectively, each of which spring positioningm'em'ber's including a circular base 1 formed with a depending externally threaded shank 8, and :a nut 9 threaded onsaid shank, which nutis formed at its upper end withan external flange I10, and there being a square opening I I extending axially through said base '1 and shank '8 to receive a wrench "[2 for the purpose hereinafter described. The base I of each spring-positioning member 15 rests :upon an internal shoulder 13in the upper end portion of a coupling 4. The sections 2 of adjoining units 1 are connected by couplings 4., which have internal threads l5 and [-6 in their upper ends and lower ends respectively for engaging external threads 11 and I8 on the lower-ends and upper ends respectively of the tubes 2 of adjoining "units I. The lower end of each tube .2 engages the upper side or the base. 1 of the spring-positioning member 6, in the coupling 4 to which said tube is connected at its lower end, and holds said base upon the shoulder |3 in the upper end portion of said coupling. The spring-positioning members 6 in the coupling 4, which is connected to the upper end of the tube 2 of the uppermost unit I, is detachably held in said coupling by means of a lock ring or adapter l9, formed with an external thread 20, which engages the internal thread in the upper end of said coupling, whereby the lower edge of said lock ring is drawn down against the upper side of said base and said base is held upon the shoulder |3 in said coupling. The flange ID of the unit 9 is formed with a spline 2| which is slidably fitted in a longitudinal groove 22 in the inner side of the coupling 4 to prevent turning of the nut 9 when the spring-positioning member 6 is rotated by the wrench l2, while inserted in the square opening H of said member, whereby said nut is moved up or down on the threaded shank 8 of said member to adjust the length of the spring 5 and the width of the spaces between the coils of said spring.

My liner, as above described, is detachably secured in the lower portion of a well casing 23 by means of a conventional liner hanger 24, as shown in Figs. '7 and 9 of the drawings, so that the liner will'be completely or partly submerged in the oil in the bottom of the Well. A pump tubing may be extended downwardly into my liner a suitable distance through the openings II in the spring-positioning members 6 and the springs 5, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the pump (not shown) may pump oil from the well through one or more of the liner units I. As shown in Figs. 2 the pump tubing 25 is extended down into the lowermost unit for pumping oil from said unit.

'The lower end of my liner as above described is closed at its lower end by a screw plug 26 which is formed with an external thread 21 for engaging the thread I8 in the lower end of the coupling 4 which is threaded on the lower end of the tube 2 of the lowermost liner unit, for securing the spring-positioning member 6 against the lower end of said tube for supporting the spring 5 in said tube.

The operation of my invention as as follows:

My liner being secured in a well casing by a liner hanger, and a pump tubing 25 being extended down in the liner through the openings in the spring-positioning members 6 and through the springs 5, into the lowermost unit I, as i1- lustrated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, oil is pumped by the pump from the bottom of the well through the inlets 3 in the tube 2 and the space between the coils of the spring 5 of the lowermost unit I, through said pump tubing 25 and out of the well through the pump and its discharge tubing, and the oil, passing from the well into the liner through said inlets 3 and spaces between said spring coils, is finely or coarsely screened according to the width of the spaces between the coils of said spring,

' which spaces may be adjusted by the wrench l2,

which being secured on the lower end of the pump tubing or drill pipe, may be inserted in the square opening II in any one of the spring-positioning members 6, and turned either to the right or to the left to turn said spring-positioning member, so that the unit nut 9 will move down or up on the threaded shank 8 of said member and compress said spring or allow said spring to expand, whereby the spaces between the spring coils are narrowed or widened.

The modification of my invention shown in Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive comprises only a single spring of any suitable length fitted Within a perforated liner casing 3| of one or more sections 32, and a single spring-positioning and adjusting means 33 mounted in the upper end of said tubing. When the liner tubing 3| includes two or more sections 32 said sections are coupled together at their adjoining ends by the conventional screw couplings 34 which engage threads 35 on the ends of said sections. On the thread 35 on the lower end of the liner tubing 3| is screw seated a bull nose 36, upon which rests the lower end of the spring 30. The spring-positioning' and adjusting means 33 comprises a screw sleeve 38, extending into the upper end of the liner casing 3|, and a screw bushing 39, secured in the upper end of said tubing by pins 40, through which bushing said sleeve extends, with its lower end engaging the upper end of the spring 30, said sleeve being formed with an external square thread 4| which engages an internal square thread 42 formed in said bushing, whereby said sleeve, upon being rotated in one direction or the other will move down or up in the liner casing and compress the spring 30 or allow said spring to expand, for adjusting the width of the space between the coils of said spring for finer or coarser screening of the oil admitted from the well through the perforations 43 in the liner tubing 3| and through the adjusted spaces between the coils of said spring. On the lower end of the screw sleeve 38 is turnably' fitted a thrust bearing 44 which bears against the upper end of the spring 30 and slidably remains with said spring against rotation. as said screw sleeve is rotated to compress said spring or to allow said spring to expand to adjust the width of the spaces between the coils of said spring. The screw sleeve 38 is formed at its upper end with an external head 45 for engaging the upper ends of the liner tubing 3| and bushing 39 for limiting the downward movement of said screw sleeveand the compression of the spring 30. The screw sleeve 38 is formed at its lower end portion; with an external bearing 46 which bears against the inner side of the liner casing 3| to guide the lower end of said sleeve in said tubing, and engages the lower end of the bushing 39 to limit the upward movement of said screw sleeve 38, with relation to the liner tubing 3|, and the expansion of the spring 30, when the sleeve 38 is turned and its thread 4| disengaged from the screw bushing 39. A clutch 50, comprising a clutch member 5| on the lower end of the bushing 39 and a clutch member 52 on the upper end of the sleeve bearing 43, is provided for engagement to prevent rotation of the screw sleeve 38 when in its uppermost position, in order to trip the liner hanger to remove or set the liner. The screw sleeve 38 is formed in its upper end with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 41 to receive a wrench for rotating said screw sleeve.

The liner hanger 24 for holding my liner in a well casing 23, as illustrated in Fig. '7 of the drawings is of conventional form, including a plurality of outwardly bowed springs 60, a collar 6| secured to the lower end of said springs, slips 62 secured to the upper ends of said springs, and a wedge sleeve 63. The collar 6| of the Wedge sleeve 63 are fitted over the liner casing 3| and said wedge sleeve is wedged behind the slips 62,

sothatsaidslips will engage the inner side of the casing 23 and jhold my-liner in any suitable position in the 'well casing. I

In "theform of my "inventionshown inFigs l2 and l3the spring 55 is coveredby a rubber covering 66, so that when said spring is compressed the said rubber covering on the adjacent col-ls of said 'sprin'g may be brought into liquid-tight contact to prevententrance of oil between the coiled the spring into the liner.

The'cperation of the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 7 to -13 inclusive '18 as follows: I

Upon loweringua wrench 'toolin the well until it engages the grooves 41 in the upper end' of the screw sleeve 38, said sleeve as shown in Fig. 7, may *be rotated by said tool, by power applied to said tool on the well derrick, 'until the sleeve snoop-54 compress #the spring 30, for finer screening of wardly behind the upwardly moving sinker :bar,

threadll is disengaged from the thread 42 in the upper end of the liner tubing 3|, as shown in Fig. 12. I Upon removing said-wrench tool from the wella sinker bar may be lowered in the well upon the head 45 on the upper end of the screw sleeve '38, so that the Weight of said sinker bar will depress said sleeve 38 andt compress the spring 30 or 65, and upon lifting said "sinker bar the spring 30 or will expand and iorce the sleeve 38 up after the sinker bar. Such compression and expansion of the spring 30 or 65 will causesaid spring to scrape any deposits from the inner side of liner'casing 3| and from anyof the perforations 43 in said casing which might be closed or partly closed by such deposits, thus enabling an attendant to keep said perforations open, for the free flow of oil'therelthroughinto the casing, without removing my liner from the well.

In the modificaition oi my invention shown in Figs. 1-4 to '18 inclusive, the bushing '39 and threads and 12 are eliminated from the liner tubing 3|, and a tubular plunger "I0 without the thread v l-I is substituted :for said plunger 38, while a coupling I I is screw seated on the upper end of the liner casing 3|, by means of "screw threads 12 and 13 onsaid casing and said coupling respectively, into which coupling the whereby said spring is caused to scrape the inner surface of the liner casing 3| and scrape away any deposits from the perforations :43 in said linercasing -and open up :any of said perforations that might be closed .by such deposits.

As shown in Figs. 14 to I8inclusive, means may be provided for detachably securing my liner down in a well to preverrthlgh gas pressure from blowing my liner and other apparatus out of :the well. (Said means 80 may comprise an invertedkconical wedge sleeve 9|, secured on the liner tubing 3:| near the upper end thereof, a

plurality ofslips '92 fitted on said liner tubing ibGlDW said wedge sleeve, and a collar 93 secured on said liner tubing below said wedge sleeve, upon which collar said slips "rest, out of engagement with said wedge sleeve alywhen the slips are not subjected .to high gas-pressure in the ,well below the sslips. "The wedge sleeve 9| slidably engages the inner side iof the well casing 23 and -centersmy liner in the well. The hull :nose 3B is rounded :andiis preferably screw seatedon the lower threaded end :of the :liner tubing 12%|,

in which lbull nose rests the lower end of the spring I5. Said bull nose rests upon the bottom of the well, whereby my :liner is supported in operative position down in 'the well.

ilnithe event of .a heave of gas under :great pressure 'inthe bottom of the well; the slips '92 will be forced upwardlycby the high pressure :of

I the gas into engagement with the wedge sleeve plunger I0 extends, and the upward movement of said sleeve ,is limited by the engagement of the upper end of its bearing 46' with an internal flange "on the upper end of said coupling TI. The upper end of a spring 15in the perforated liner casing 3| engages the lower end of the plunger 10, while the lower end of said spring rests upon the bull nose 36 on the lower end of said liner casing,.which casing may comprise one or more sections 32. The spring I5 may be made in a plurality of sections I6 placed end to end as indicated at I6. The sleeve 10 may be clutched to the coupling II by a clutch 11, under the influence of thespring I5, as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 16, which clutch comprises engaging members I8 and 19, the members 18 being formed on the under side of the flange 14 on the upper end of the coupling II, and the members I9 being formed in the upper end of the bearing 46 on the lower end of the sleeve I0.

When the plunger I0 is clutched to the coupling II by the clutch 11, a tool may be lowered inthe well into engagement with bayonet slots 80 in the upper end of said sleeve, and upon turning said tool in one direction or the other the screw coupling 1|, through the medium of the plunger I0, clutch 11 and the screw threads I2 and I3, may be moved down on the liner casing 3|, to

, $8.1, until the teeth 95 :of said slips hind against :the inner side :of 'the wellzcasing 23 and hold my liner in position in the well against said gas pressure, thus preventing my liner from being blown out of the well by such high gas pressure.

The modification of my invention shown in Fig. 19 is like that shown in Figs. 14 to is inclusive, except that the bull nose 36' is eliminated from the lower end of the liner tubing 3| and a tubular plunger I00 is slidably mounted in the lower end of said liner tubing by means of a screw sleeve coupling IOI, formed with an internal thread I02, which engages the external thread 35 on the lower end of said liner tubing 3|, said coupling |0I being also formed at its lower end with an internal flange I03, which surrounds the plunger I00 and is adapted to engage a head I04 on the upper endof said plunger for limiting the downward movement of said plunger in the liner tubing 3| and preventing said plunger from dropping out of the lower end of said tubing when the liner is in such position in the well that the lower end of said plunger cannot rest upon the bottom of the well. A bull nose I05 is screw seated on the lower end of the plunger I00 for resting upon the bottom of the well when the liner is lowered far enough down the well as illustrated. The lower end of the spring 15 rests upon the head I04 on the upper end of the plunger I00 and exerts a downward pressure upon said plunger, forcing said plunger downwardly in the lower end of the liner tubing 3| until the plunger head I04 engages the coupling flange I03, when the liner is so positioned in the well casing 94 that the bull nose I05 on the lower end of the plunger I restsabove the bottom of the well, while the plunger is in its said lowermost position in the liner tubing 3I. This modification of my liner is supported in the well casing 23 by a tubing hanger 24, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, with the bull nose I on the lower end of the plunger I00 located above the bottom of the well, while said plunger is held in its lowermost position with its head I04 engaging the coupling flange I03.

I The operation of this modification of my liner.

is as follows? When the liner is held in the well casing by the tubing hanger 24, as illustrated in Fig. 7, a

conventional sinker bar may be lowered in the well upon the upper end of the plunger I0 to depress said plunger and compress the spring I5, and the sinker bar may then be elevated to allow said spring to expand. The lowering of the sinker bar and the compression and expansion of the spring I5 several times will cause said spring to;

scrape away deposits on the inner side of the liner tubing 3| and open any of the perforations 43 in the liner tubing which may be closed by such deposits. However, the compression and expansion of the spring I5 at its upper end, by the upper plunger I0, will compress and expand the upper portion of the spring to a considerably greater extent than the lower portion of the spring and consequently the inner side of the upper portion of the liner tubing 3| will be...

scraped more effectively by the spring than the inner side of the lower portion of the liner tubing.

A greater compression and expansion of the lower portion of the spring I5, than is produced.

by the operation of the upper plunger I0; may be produced by the operation of the lower plunger I00 in following manner:

A conventional tripping tool is lowered in the well and the liner hanger 2-4-is tripped by said tool, whereby the slips 62 are released from the casing 23, and the liner is lowered by said tool until the bull nose I05 on the lower end of the plunger I00 rests upon the bottom of the well and the liner tubing 3| descends under its own weight, over plunger and causes the spring I5 to be compressed, by the head I04 on the upper end of said plunger, between said head and the bearing 46' on the lower end of the upper plunger 10, as illustrated in the drawings. The tripping tool is then removed from the well casing and a suitable tool, such as a combination socket, is then lowered in the well casing and the coupling 'II on the upper end of the liner tubing 3| is gripped by said socket, whereupon the liner tubing is raised and lowered several times by said tool, and the spring I5 correspondingly expands and is compressed between the plungers I0 and I00, causing the lowerportion of said spring to be expanded and contracted to a greater extent and to scrape the lower portion of the inside of the liner tubing more effectively than when the spring is contracted and expanded by means of the upper plunger I0, as above described.

I do not limit my invention to the exact construction herein disclosed since various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A liner for wells comprising a perforated liner tube, a coil spring mounted in said tube, a sleeve screw-seated in said liner tube so that one end of said sleeve engages one end of said spring for compressing or allowing said spring to expand, when said screw sleeve is turned in one direction or the other, means for limiting the outward movement of said sleeve with relation to said liner tube, when said sleeve is turned out of threaded engagement with said tube, and a clutch,

which is brought into engagement for clutching said sleeve against rotation with relation to said tube, when said sleeve is turned out of threaded engagementwith said tube and is limited in its outward movement with relation to said liner tube.

JULIUS S. BECK. 

